עָשַׁק (a.shaq)
a.shaq
to oppress
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb a.shaq describes the act of pressing down on someone to cause harm, encompassing oppression, fraud, and extortion. Its core image is one of weight and force, whether applied physically or through legal deceit. The sources note it applies when a king mistreats subjects (1 Samuel 12:3-4), when conquerors crush the defeated (Isaiah 52:4), or when individuals steal wages from laborers (Malachi 3:5). It is not merely unfair treatment, but an active abuse of power that leaves the victim crushed.
A striking usage appears in Proverbs 28:17, where a man "oppressed with blood" is described as being bowed down under the burden of his own guilt. This metaphorical use shows the word can describe internal pressure just as well as external violence. The related noun form refers to a virgin who has been violated forcibly (Genesis 34:2), highlighting the severe, violating nature of the root.
Translators often render this word as "oppress," "defraud," or "do violence," depending on context. In Leviticus 19:13, it prohibits withholding a worker's pay, while in Psalm 72:4, it describes the ideal king who defends the oppressed. The consistent thread is the abuse of strength against the vulnerable, making it a key term for justice in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word a.shaq paints a vivid picture of someone using their strength or position to crush another person. It is not just unfairness; it is an active abuse of power that leaves the victim feeling heavy and trapped. Scripture consistently warns against this behavior, especially when it targets those who are poor, foreign, or vulnerable. God sees these acts clearly and calls His people to protect the weak rather than exploit them.
For your daily life, this word invites you to examine how you interact with others. Do you ever use your authority, wealth, or influence to pressure someone into doing what they cannot afford to give? The Bible asks us to be defenders of the oppressed, reflecting God’s own heart for justice. When we choose kindness over control, we honor the Creator who made every person in His image.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- oppressed3×
- you will oppress2×
- you must oppress2×
- to/ oppress/ them2×
- [one who] oppresses2×
- you oppress1×
- you have oppressed/ us1×
- who/ oppress1×
- to/ oppressors/ my1×
- they oppress/ me1×
- oppressors/ their1×
- it oppressed/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק2×
- עָשׁ֥וּק2×
- תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ1×
- תַעֲשֹׁ֗ק1×
- תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ1×
- עוֹשֵֽׁק\׃1×
- עוֹשֵׁ֑ק1×
- עֹֽשְׁקֵי/הֶם֙1×
- עֹ֣שֵֽׁק\־1×
- עֹ֣שֵֽׁק1×
- עָשֻׁ֣ק1×
- עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:13
“‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. “‘The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
This verse links oppression directly to withholding wages, showing that economic exploitation is a form of crushing another’s livelihood.
-
Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Here the text reveals a spiritual dimension: oppressing the poor is an act of contempt against God Himself, who made them.
-
Psalms 72:4
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.
The ideal king is defined by his ability to break the oppressor, establishing that true leadership protects the vulnerable from abuse.
-
Ecclesiastes 4:1
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
This observation highlights the despair of the oppressed who have no comforter, emphasizing the social isolation caused by such cruelty.